Nozzle adjustment for suction cleaners



Nov. 10, 1953 H. B. WHITE NOZZLE ADJUSTMENT FOR SUCTION CLEANERS 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 16, 1948 JNVENToR. Harry B.White Nov. 10, 1953 H. B. WHITE f 2,658,227

NOZZLE ADJUSTMENT FOR SUCTION CLEANERS Filed March 16, 1948 4 SheetS-Sheet 2 Fig. 5

V INVENTOR. H arry B. White NOV. l0, 1953 H, B, W|||TE 2,658,227

NOZZLE ADJUSTMENT FOR SUCTION CLEANERS Filed March 16, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Harry B.Whii!e Nov., 10? 1953 H. B. WHITE .TJOZZLE ADJUSTMENT FOP SUCTION CLEANERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March i6. i948 Fig. 7

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Patented Nov. 10, 19.53

NOZZLE ADJUSTMENT FOR SUCTION CLEANERS- Harry B. White, Canton, Ohio, assignorto The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 16, 1948, Serial No. 15,067

8 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to suction cleaners and more particularly to an automatic nozzle adjustment therefor in which it is impossible to use the cleaner without properly adjusting the nozzle.

As is well known a suction cleaner nozzle must be properly positioned with relation to the surface covering being cleaned. That is, the position should vary with variations in the type of the carpet being cleaned and should be further varied if the cleaner is being used on a bare floor.

When used on oor coverings the Wheels sink into the nap of the floor covering and unless some change is made in the nozzle adjustment the nozzle will be too high when used on floor coverings having short or stiff nap and too low when used on floor coverings having long or soft nap. For ideal operations a nozzle should be supported a fixed distance above the surface of the nap of the floor covering. The floor coverhandle in upright or storage position and some means may be provided to lock the handle in storage-position. When the cleaner is to be used the user may carry the cleaner to the room being cleaned by the handle or the handle may be moved from storage position and the cleaner propelled to the room.

According to the present invention an automatic mechanism is provided for properly adjusting the nozzle for the particular type of surface being cleaned by which the operator is compelled to go through the necessary operations to properly adjust the nozzle.

Specifically according to the broadest aspects of this invention, the handle is locked in storage position and manually operable means is provided for both initiating the action of the nozzle adjusting mechanism and releasing the handle from locked lposition in which the handle cannot be released from locked position unless the preliminary action of the nozzle adjusting mechanism is also initiated.

Also according to the preferred modification the nozzle adjusting mechanism is such that the ,2 lease of the handle from storage position and the wheels are moved downwardly relative to the cleaner body to raise the nozzle from the floor. The feeler sets a mechanism into a definite position, depending upon the type of surface upon which the cleaner is positioned, Which position fixes the final position of the nozzle relative to the surface to be cleaned. The nal adjusting action is completed by the normal movement of the propelling handle in propelling the cleaner back and forth over the surface. The amount the nozzle is adjusted by the normal movement of the handle depends entirely upon the position of the feeler relative to the supporting wheels which in turn is dependent upon the type of surface upon which the cleaner is placed.

The mechanism is so made that the amount of movement of the nozzle by the normal movement of the handle during cleaning is greatest when the handle is released while the cleaner is positioned on a bare floor and the least when the handle is released while the cleaner is positioned on the thickest carpet having the softest nap.

More specifically the manually actuated lever which lreleases the handle from its locked vertical position moves the Wheels downwardly relative to the cleaner body to raise the nozzleupwardly relative to the surface upon which the cleaner is positioned and in doing so releases a selector from the wheel adjusting mechanism and permits the feeler to contact the surface upon which the cleaner is positioned under the influence of a light spring. The feeler then resets the selector relative to the wheel adjusting mechanism depending upon the type of surface upon which the cleaner is positioned which will determine the final position of the nozzle relative to the surface when the adjustment is completed. The normal movement of the handle in propelling the cleaner back and forth will return the wheel adjusting mechanism toward its original position in a step-by-step movement. If the cleaner is positioned on a thick carpet only a single reciprocation may be necessary but if it is positioned on a thin carpet or upon a bare floor two or more reciprocations may be necessary to complete the adjustment.

According to a modification of this invention the manually actuated lever which releases the handle from its locked vertical position releases a clutch or selector mechanism which permits the Wheel to sink into the nap of the carpet while the nozzle acts as a feeler or gauging means and is positioned upon the surface of the carpet. The wheels are spring pressed downwardly and will sink various distances into the carpet depending upon the type of carpet upon which the cleaner rests. When the manually actuatable lever is released for movement to its original position the clutch or selector is reset at some point, depending upon the position of the wheels relative to the nozzle when thefnozzler is resting against a supportingsurface, so as: to;ra.ise the nozzle from the surface to its proper operative position.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the descriptionprooeeds 1 illustrated in Fig. 1 in the. first stage. of the.

adjustmentof theV nozzle, thefootpedal being depressed and the handle. being moved fromthe storage position tothe lower end'ofjitsworkingA range;

Figure 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 showing the relationship of Vthgparts after themachine hasl been reciprocated forwardly and .rearwardlyI and.

the nozzle has been properly positioned relative to the supporting-surface;

Figure 5 is a transversesectionlookinginthe direction of theV arrowsuponV the line5-5 of Fig-.4;A

Figure 6.is a.sectional.viewl on the line. 5 5

of Fig. 5;

Figure 1 is. aside elevationalyiew of asuction cleaner witncertainparts broken 'away showing a. modified form .of .this invention; vand Figure 8,is,a view showingthermodfication of Fig. 7 with .thenozzle positioned in` its downward position ,Y against a .surfacev coveringpreparatory.

tothe final adjusting action.-

This application is .a continuationinfpart of mycopending application forU. S. Letters Patent Ser. No. .500,894I filed Septemb'eri 2, ,1943, which. wasformally abandoned infavor of .this `application onApril 12, 1948-. Figures. 1. to..6of'this application are. duplicates of Figs.. 1 fto 6 ofmyformer application,V abovereferred to.. While Figs. 7 and 8 have been added.

This .invention is appliedtoa suction-cleanerhaving the handle pivoted to the rear of1the cas-l ing; and .comprises a main-casing: I-.including a suction .nozzle 2 having front; andi rear. surface contactingr lips 3 and! respectively.v Theinozzle 1 Z'Lisconnectedpbyan airgpassagez tothe :fan

chamber-1 having'a fan`8xtherein carried .by the shaft 9 of a motorfwhich is vhoused within'a motor hood I I 'positioned on the'top of the main casing` I directly above the fan'chamb'er 1.

The fan 8 exhausts into-an exhaust ApassagelZ extending rearwardly from the'cham'berJ to an exhaust outlet lto which a filter bag I4 is attached by clamping nut I8. in the nozzle 2 is rotatedb'y` a belt AISI extending aboutthe extended end ofthe .shaft 9 which is formed asa pulley for that purpose.

The cleaner is supported. by rear wheelszl se` cured .to the vmain casing I near the. rear-.end.

thereof byl a U-shapedbracket r22.and by front wheels 23 carried by the offset ends. of arockshaft 24 pivotally attached to the. front vof.the. casing I immediatelyV to therear ofthe nozzle2.

The rock shaft 24 is.adaptedtoberotatedin adr- An agitator. I8 positioned justing the front wheels 23 in a manner to be explained hereinafter.

A propelling handle 26 is pivotally attached to the rear upper side of the casing I immediately above the exhaust passage I2 by an inverted U- shaped bracket 21 and by the pivot pin 28. A coil spring..29. (Fig. 2) surroundsthe pivot pin 2U' andfcounterbalances the weight or the handie 26 when it is moved from its vertical storage position.

The handle 25 is positively locked in its vertical storage position bya roller detent 33 on the end of 'a detent arm 34 pivoted at 35 to a bracket 31 (Figs. 51-and 6) attached to the main casing I .whichfcooperates with notches in a sector 3| rigidly. attached tothe lower end of the handle 26 by asupport 32 (Figs. 2 and 5). Detent arm 3'4`is biased clockwise by a spring 38 surrounding ther'pivotpin 36 and having one end anchored to the bracket 31 by a xed pin 38 and the other to the-.leg`4l of the detent arm 34, the leg 4I being rigid with-the arm 34 and movable therewith. Thei spring 38 holds the roller detent 33.

in the notches of the sector 3I so that the handle 26 cannot be removed from its vertical storagel position until released therefrom by a mechanism which. will be presently described. When the roller detent-33is positioned on the sector 3| between the notches,` which determine the normal working range ofthe handle 26, the handle cannot be removed therefrom without the application of considerable force thereto.

A plate 43 ispivoted by pin 44 to a vertical wall 46 (Fig. 5) integral with the main casing I. The plate 43. carries a foot pedal 42 and a trip pin 41 (Figs. 2 and 3) adapted to cooperate with the leg 4I.of the detent arm 34 in a manner which will be described hereinafter.

A feelerY 53 -is -pivoted to the underside of the casingl byv means of the downwardly extending bracket 54 andpivotally carries a selector sector 5I, the. outer end of which has a plurality of notches therein which cooperate with one of the oil'setends of the rock shaft 24 as will later become apparent. The feeler 53 is normally biased to its-downward position by a light spring 56 and itsupper limit of travel is determined by the stop 58. extending downwardly from the casing l. The downwardmovement of the selector sector 5I relative to the feeler 53 is limited by the pin 51 carried by the feeler 53 forwardly of the pivot point of the selector 5I. As shown in Fig. 2 the bottom of the feeler 53 is made comparativelyfwide .and slopes upwardly toward the rear so .that it will .ride on top of the nap of a rug or carpet. Thespring 56 is comparatively weak so that the above will be true even though the cleaner is propelled back. and forth with the feeler 53 in its downward position.

The feeler 53 is normally held against the stop 58 by the force of a coiled spring 59 connected between the .offset ends of the rock shaft 24 and the underside of the casing I and by the weight ofthe cleaner both tending to rotate the wheels 23upwardlyv toward the casing I.

One end of a connecting rod 6I is attached to one of the crank arms of the rock shaft 24 and its'other end enters a socket 62 carried by an eccentric strap 63 surrounding an eccentric 64 ,formed integrally with the plate 43 which also has a toothed sector 66 formed integrally therewith. A pawl 61 is pivoted at 68 to the handle sector4 3| at a point spaced forwardly from the pivot .pin28 of the handle 26. A spring 69 surrounds the pivot p in .68 of the pawl 61 and biases the pawl counter-clockwise so as to bring the end 1| of the pawl 61 into contact with the teeth of the sector 66 unless held therefrom. A pin 13 on the detent arm 34 engages the pawl 61 to hold the end 1| of the pawl 61 away from theA Operation of Figures 1 to 6 Assume that the cleaner is positioned on a carpet or other surface with the handle locked in storage position as viewed in Fig. 1. The nozzle 2 may or may not be positioned in proper relationship to the carpet for optimum cleaning effectiveness. In Fig. 1 the nozzle 2 is shown in an improper relationship being too close to the carpet.

The operator will press downwardly on the plate 8| which will first move the barrier plate 16 to the right as viewed in Fig. 6 so as to cover the teeth of sector 66. When the plate 8| engages the foot pedal 42 the plate 43 will be rotated clockwise as viewed in Fig. 1. The pin 41 on plate 43 will first engage the leg 4| of detent arm 34 and move the arm 34 counter-clockwise and release the roller detent 33 from the notch in the handle sector 3|. The handle 26 may then be pivoted rearwardly which will raise the pawl 61 upwardly, its end 1| being prevented from contact with the teeth of the sector 66 by the barrier plate 16.

Continued movement of the pedal 42 downwardly will rotate the eccentric 64, which is integral with the plate 43, clockwise relative to the eccentric strap 63. This will cause the connecting rod 6| to be moved to the left which will rotate the rock shaft 24 clockwise so as to move the wheels 23 downwardly relative to the casing I and raise the nozzle 2. During this movement the notch of the selector 5| which was engaged with the end of the axle of the rock shaft 24 will be disengaged and the feeler 53 will pivot clockwise under the bias of the spring 56 until it contacts the surface of the carpet, the selector 5| being held elevated by contact with the pin 51 on the feeler 53. This position is shown in Fig. 3.

If the rug is thick and has a soft nap the wheels 23 will sing into the nap so as to be positioned below the bottom edge of the feeler 53. If the cleaner is positioned on a bare floor the wheels will be even with the bottom edge of the feeler 53. This will condition the selector 5| so that the axle of rock shaft 24 is positioned to engage a high notch of the selector 5| if the cleaner is on a thick carpet and a low notch if the cleaner is on a bare floor. This position will determine the final position which the nozzle will take relative to the surface upon which the cleaner rests when the adjustment is completed. It is to be noted that the distance between the axle of the rock shaft 24 and the lower notches of the selector 5| is greater than between the axle and the higher notches.

The pressure is then released from the plate 8| permitting the spring 18 to move the barrier plate 16 backwardly so as to clear the teeth of the sector 66. Movement of the handle 26 from the vertical storage position of Fig. 1 has previously moved the pawl 61 upwardly into a position so that its lower end 1| may engage the teeth of the sector 66 when the handle is moved upwardly again.

The cleaner may now be moved back and forth over the surface being cleaned in a manner to perform its cleaning function and the nozzle will be automatically adjusted into its proper position for optimum cleaning effectiveness.

As the cleaner is moved back and forth the handle will be moved upwardly and downwardly relative to the cleaner body being moved upwardly as the cleaner is drawn rearwardly and downwardly as the cleaner is pushed forwardly. Since the feeler 53 has a flat inclined bottom edge and the spring 56 is comparatively weak the feeler will merely glide along the surface whether the cleaner is positioned on a thick carpet or a. hard surface. Upon upward movement of the handle 26 the pawl 61 will be moved downwardly and its end 1| will engage one ofthe teeth of the sector 66 and rotate the eccentric 64 counterclockwise. This will cause the socket 62 to move to the right followed by the connecting rod 6| under the bias of the spring 59 and the weight of the cleaner. This will cause the wheels 23 to move upwardly relative to the casing and the nozzle 2 to move downwardly toward the surface upon which the cleaner rests.

If the cleaner is positioned on a very thick carpet one raising of the handle 26 may move the wheels 23 sufficiently to engage the axle of the rock shaft 24 with one of the notches in the selector 5| in which event the adjustment will be completed and locked in that position. If the movement of the rod 6I was sufficient the weight of the cleaner and the force of the spring 59 will move the selector 5| rearwardly and pivot thefeeler 53 counter-clockwise to raise it from the surface upon which the cleaner is positioned against the stop 58.

If the cleaner is positioned on a thin carpet or on a bare floor one or more reciprocations of the handle 26 may be necessary to engage the axle of the rock shaft 24 with the proper notch in the selector 5|. However, regardless of the type of surface upon which the cleaner is positioned that engagement will eventually take place and the adjustment of the nozzle made as above described by the normal movement of the cleaner over the surface being cleaned and in delayed relationship to the release of the handle from storage position.

Continued reciprocation of the handle 26 will reengage the end 1| of the pawl 61 with tooth after tooth of the sector 66 and rotate the eccentric 64 counter-clockwise until the axle of the rock shaft 24 becomes locked with the selector 5| as above described after which the socket 62 will merely move to the right relative to the end of the connecting rod 6| and the adjustment of the nozzle will not be altered. After the end 1| of the pawl 61 engages theupper tooth of the sector 66 no further movement will occur.

In normal use the cleaner is usually placed in storage position before the cleaner is moved to another room having a different type of floor covering. Thus, in normal use the adjustment must be made for each type of floor covering to be cleaned before the handle can be moved from storage position. However, should the operator move the cleaner to another type of surface without moving the handle to storage position it is only necessary to again press downwardly on the 7 plate 8| Aandthe pedal 42zwhereby thenozzle will again be? automatically adjusted for optimum cleaning effectiveness. for Vthe particular surface being cleaned.

Referring to Figs. '7 and 8 the cleaner is in all respects like that of Figs. 1 to 6; inclusive, except for thenozzle adjustment; Where the parts are the 'same they have been given the same reference numerals. Only the modified parts will be described.

The h`andle-82 is pivoted at 83' to the top of the' casing as in the first modification. The lower end of the handle 82 `is formed in the shape ofa sector 84 having protuberances 85 and 86 which determine the limits of the normal workingA range of the handle. A deep notch 81 is also formed in the sector 84 beyond the protuberance 85to determine the upright or storage position of the handle.

The sector 84 cooperates with a roller detent 88 carried'bythe end of a detent arm SS which is pivoted t the casing at 90` and is spring-biased clockwise by a spring 9|. The handle 82 cannot be `removed from storage position until the roller datent-88 is positively removed from the notch 81.

A foot pedal 92 is pivoted to the casting at 93 and is spring-biased counter-clockwise against the stop 94 by a spring 95. Rotatably mounted on the pivot 93 of the foot pedal 92 is a brake drum 96, surrounded by a brake band 91, one end of which is attached to the pedal 92 at 98. rEhe brake band 91 is normally held contracted about the drum 96 by a'spring 99 which abuts at one end against the end |00 of the brake band 91 and at the other end against a projection ici integral with the foot pedal 92. A connecting rod |02 is pivoted to the brake drum 96'eccentric to the axis of the drum and at its other end is-pivoted to a crank arm |03 of a-rock shaft |04 which pivotally carries the front wheels 23 of the cleaner. The rock shaft |04 is spring-biased clockwise by a spring |05 so as to normally bias-the wheels 23 downwardly relative to the casing I. The lower end |06 of the detent arm 89 cooperates with the lug |0| on the foot pedal 92 in a manner to be explained presently.

Operation of Figures Tand 8 In Fig. 7 the parts are shown in the position they occupy when the handle is in its upright or storage position. The nozzle 2 may or may not be properly positioned for maximum cleaning efllciency. In order to remove the handle 82 from its upright storage position it is necessary to press downwardly on the foot pedal 92 which will immediately begin to move the link |02 to the right l and pivot the wheels upwardly relative to the casing against the bias of the spring |05 and permit the nozzle to drop against the nap of the carpet or against any other surface upon which the cleaner rests. Continued depression of the foot pedal 92 will bring the end |00 of the brake band 91-into contact with the stop 94 and loosen the brake bands grip on the brake drum 96. This will permit the spring |05 to move the wheel 23 downwardly so as to penetrate into the nap of the carpet a distance depending upon the type of surface being cleaned. This position is shown in Fig. 8 and preselects the final adjustment of the nozzle 2 above the surface upon which the cleaner rests.

Slight continued depression of the foot pedal 92 will bring the lug |0| into contact with the lower end |06 of the detent arm 89 so as to move it'counter-clockwise and release the roller detent 86 from the notch 81 in the sector 84 and permit the handle 82 to be moved from storage position. Upon release of the footpedal 92the springs! will returnthev pedal to its original position; As the end |00`sof thebrake band'91 moves away from the stop 94 theVv brake band 91 will be tightened about the brake drum 96 by theispring 99 sc thatthedrumf 96 will`move with the foot pedal 92 to move the link |02 to the left'andthe wheels 23 downwardly relative to the casingl so as to raise the nozzle 2 above the surface upon which the cleaner rests the correct distance-for maximumv cleaning emciency.

In the modification of Figs. '1 and 'Bthe nozzle lips 3 and 4 constitute the gauging means which preselects the final position ofthe nozzle 2 relative to the surface-upon which the cleaner rests. The wheels. 23' are moved downwardly relative to the casing.. I a variable distance dependent upon the type of surface upon which the cleaner rests and. are. again. moved downwardly relative to the casing. l to raisethecasing a fixed distance regardless of thetype of surface upon which the. cleaner rests.

It is to be noted that according to the modication of Figs. '1 and 8y the adjustmentnmst be made every time ythe handleV is removed from storage position thus'assuring that the nozzle'will be properly adjusted for maximum cleaning-'etliciency onv all types of surfaces.

While Ihave shown but two modications'of my invention it is tobe understood that these modifications are to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. I do not wish to be limited to the particular structure shown and described butto include all equivalent variations thereof except as limited by the scope of the claims.

claim:

l. A suction cleaner comprising; a body including a nozzle; wheels for supporting said body for movement over a surface with said nozzle positioned at a selected distance above said surface; attaching means for movably securing said wheels to said body; a handle movably attached to said body for propelling said body over said surface; a latch for locking said handle in a vertical storage position; surface gauging means carried by said body so as to be movable into contact with said surface; selector means movably carried by said body and constructed to be positioned by said gauging means; manually actuatable latch release means movably mounted on said body and engageable with said latch and operable to release said handle for movement from vertical storage position and means connecting said latch release means with said wheel attaching means and said 'selector means and operable upon movement of said latch release means to latch releasing position for moving said wheels relative to said body and for releasing said selector means and gauging means to cause said gauging means to move into contact with said surface and position said selector means, and means operable by movement of said handle to actuate said connecting means to move said wheels to the position selected by said selector means, to relocl: said selector means and to raise said gauging means from said surface.

2. A suction cleaner comprising; a body including a nozzle; wheels for supporting said body for movement over a surface; a rock shaft for pivotally connecting said wheels to said body; spring means for biasing said rock shaft to move said wheelsupwardly relativeY to said body; a manually actuatable lever pivoted to said body;

an eccentric attached to said manually actuatable lever so as to be moved therewith; a connecting rod; an eccentric strap connecting one end of said connecting rod to said eccentric; the other end of said connecting rod being connected to said rock shaft so as to rotate said rock shaft and move said Wheels relative to said body; a handle pivoted to said body for propelling said body over said surface; a selector normally engaging said rock shaft to lock said rock shaft against rotation to position said Wheels in a fixed relationship to said body; surface gauging means for positioning said selector relative to said rock shaft; the arrangement being such that movement of said manually actuatable lever rotates said eccentric to move said wheels relative to said body, releases said selector means from said rock shaft, permits said gauging means to move into contact with the surface upon which the cleaner rests to position said selector relative to said rock shafts; and means operable by movement of said handle for rotating said eccentric to move said rock shaft and lock said selector means and position said wheels relative to said body in a position determined by the position of said gauging means.

3. In 4a suction cleaner, a body including a nozzle, a handle movably secured to said body, supporting means, adjustable means to adjustably secure said supporting means to said body to l,

position said nozzle relative to a surface, a movable element carried by said body and engageable with said adjustable means to lock said supporting means in the nal adjusted position, surface gauging means carried by said body for positioning said movable element at varying positions relative to said adjustable means depending upon the type of surface upon which said supporting means rests, manually actuatable means associated with said body, means connected between said manually actuatable means, adjustable means and movable element for releasing said movable element from locking engagement with said adjustable means and for releasing said gauging means for movement into contact with said surface to position said movable element relative to said adjustable means and means responsive to movement of said handle in propelling said body over said surface for reengaging said movable element with said adjustable means and moving said gauging means from contact with said surface.

4. In a suction cleaner, a body including a nozzle, a wheel, mounting means adjustably connecting said wheel to said body, adjustable means to position said mounting means relative to said body and including clutch means to release said mounting means, a surface-contacting feeler to position said adjustable means with said clutch means in open relationship and in accordance with its determination concerning an underlying surface, a handle connected to said body to exert a propelling force thereon, means to retain said handle in a vertical storage position and within a working range, a rotatable eccentric, means actuated by said eccentric to open or close said clutch means, a foot lever to rotate said eccentric in one direction to open said clutch to release said mounting means from said adjustable means, means including means connected to said handle to rotate said eccentric in the opposite direction to close said clutch means to reestablish the control of said adjustable means over said mounting means.

5. A nozzle-height-adjusting mechanism for a suction cleaner comprising a nozzle to be adjusted, a handle pivotally mounted on said l cleaner to swing relatively thereto in its working range adapted for propelling and adjustment of the nozzle and further adapted to be placed into vertical storage position, said nozzle-height-adjusting mechanism comprising an adjustable wheeled crank shaft for supporting the cleaner, a

plate sector operatively mounted on the cleaner and having a plurality of spaced seats adapted to engage the wheeled crank shaft for adjusting the vnozzle in its optimum position for a particular rsurface covering, a feeler pivotally connected to `ing an eccentric connected to the crank shaft through a lost-motion connection whereby upon movement of the eccentric in one direction the crank shaft is moved out of engagement with the plate sector permitting the feeler to engage the surface covering and upon movement of the eccentric in the opposite direction the feeler is returned to its original position and the nozzle is automatically adjusted to its optimum position, means for actuating the eccentric includ- `ing a foot-operated lever adapted to release the handle of the cleaner from its storage position ypermitting the. handle to be placed in its working range, said ratchet and pawl mechanism being connected to said handle so as to be actuated upon propelling the cleaner to and fro by movement of the handle in its working range returning the foot-operated lever to its initial position and actuating the lost-motion connection permitting engagement of the crank shaft with the plate sector and adjustment of the nozzle height and Withdrawal of the feeler from engagement of the surface covering.

6. A suction cleaner comprising; a body including a nozzle; supporting means carried by said body for supporting said body for movement over a surface to be cleaned; said body and supporting means being connected for movement relative to each other to position said nozzle at selected distances from said surface; means for locking said body and supporting means against movement relative to each other with said nozzle at varying distances relative to said supporting surface; a handle movably attached to said body for propelling said body over said surface; latch means for positively locking said handle in an upright storage position; manually actuatable latch release means movably mounted on said body and engageable with said latch means and operable to release said handle for movement from its vertical storage position and means cooperating with said latch release means, with said locking means and with said supporting means and operable upon actuation of said latch release means to latch releasing position to release said locking means, to move said supporting means relative to said body and to position said locking means in a selected position to select the final relative position of said supporting means and body and means for again moving said supporting means and body relative to each other to move said nozzle to said selected position above said surface and to relock said locking means.

7. A suction cleaner comprising; a body inl l cluding a nozzle; wheels for supporting saidbody for movement over a surface being cleaned; adjustable means for attaching said Wheels to said body for movement relative thereto for positioning said nozzle in selected positions relative to said supporting surface; releasable locking means for locking said adjustable means in various adjusted positions; adjusting means for setting said adjustable means in adjusted position; gauging means for preselecting the setting of said adjusting means; a handle movably attached to said body for propelling said body over said surface; latch means for positively locking said handle in a vertical storage postion; manually actuable latch release means movably mounted on said body and engageable with said latch means and operable to release said handle for movement from its vertical storage position and means connecting said latch release means with said wheel adjustingI means, said locking means and said gauging means and operable-upon movement of said latch release means tolatch releasing position to release said locking means, to move said wheels relative to said body and to move said gauging means into contact with said surface to preselect the setting of said wheel adjusting means and means for moving said adjustable means to the preselectedposition.

8. A suction cleaner comprising; a body including a nozzle; wheels for supporting said body for movement over a surface with said nozzle positioned at-a selected distance above said surface; attaching means for movably securing said wheels to said body; a handle movably attached to said body for propelling said body over said surface; a latch for locking said handle in a v,vertical storage position; surface gauging means carried by said body so as to be movablevinto contact with said surface; selector means movably carried by said body and constructed to be positioned by said gauging means; manually actuable latch release means movably mounted on said body and engageable with said latch and operable to release said handle for movement from vertical storage position and means connecting said latch release means with said Vwheel attachingmeans and said selector means and operable upon movement of said latch release means to latch releasing position for moving said wheels relative to said body and for releasing said selector means and gauging means to cause said gauging means to move into contact with said surface and position said selector means; and means operable to actuate said connecting means to move said wheels to the position selected by said selector means, to relock said selector means and to raise said gauging means from said surface.

HARRY B. WHITE.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS vNumber Name Date 2,178,006 Taylor Oct. 31, 1939 2,183,826 Taylor Dec. 19, 1939 2,202,983 Carlson June 4, 1940 2,282,950 Dunbar May 12, 1942 2,379,316 Osborn June 26, 1945 2,389,877 Snyder Nov. 27, 1945 

